A Day Trip to Brunoy and Yerres

While I still find endless adventures within the confines of the périphérique, I also like to explore beyond the Paris city limits. I used Annabel Simms’ fantastic books, One Hour from Paris and Half an Hour from Paris, as my guide. With a good friend by my side, we chose an excursion from the latter, hopping on the RER D at Châtelet–Les Halles and heading for Brunoy.

In less than an hour, we stepped off the train and into a quiet, charming town. We wandered through its peaceful streets, passing interesting statues and squares until we found a small island nestled in the Yerres River. It was here that I understood why this area captivated the Impressionists. The serene scene — rippling water from dancing insects, beautiful reflections of the surrounding trees, and the gentle sound of a small waterfall — was a living painting. My photos became a modern interpretation of the landscapes they immortalized ages ago.

Before continuing our walk to Yerres, we returned to Brunoy for an outdoor lunch at La Rôtisserie. The service was excellent, the food was delicious, and the price was a welcome change from typical Parisian rates. Refreshed, we followed the book’s path to the town of Yerres, crossing the river several times and enjoying the stunning reflections of greenery, sky, and clouds on the water’s surface. In Yerres, we found the Caillebotte Museum, another highlight of the trip, especially its lush gardens. Unfortunately we were a bit tired and decided to save the museum itself for a future visit and we took a moment to rest and recharge on a hot August day.

Our journey concluded as we walked past a captivating dancing statue on our way to the Yerres train station. The short train ride back to Paris felt like a return from a world away. This day trip proved that escaping the city for a day is not only easy but also incredibly rewarding. Hopefully, this little vignette will inspire you to try this or another one of the many adventures just outside the city’s doorstep.